“Apparently no one round here wanted to buy it because of what had happened there.” The woman said.
“What happened?” Alison said.
The woman paused. “Don’t you know? I thought everyone knew? The locals told me that a creepy man lived there decades ago, 1930’s I think. His surname was Alfred, I can’t remember his first name. Well anyway, he lived there with his wife. She was pretty and popular. I think she was a teacher. Anyway she disappeared one day, and so did two other woman. The police went to question him. But they never got the chance to. When they went to question him he-”
Alison stood in silence, not sure how to respond. The silence was broken by the sound of the front door bell chiming as another customer walked in. The woman started talking to him and taking his order. Alison waited for her to finish serving, so she could ask her more questions. As she waited a man in his fifties came out from out back.
“Katie, could you go out back and process the delivery?" He said to the woman. “I’ll work out here for a while.” Katie went out back.
“Excuse her. She has an active imagination.” The man said to Alison.
“No need to apologise… is what she telling me true?” Alison said.
“Of course not. It’s just a silly story people say. It’s an empty house, people make up things.”
Alison went back outside to Tess who was tied up to a lamppost. Alison was not sure what to think. She untied Tess and decided to go and clear her head before returning to the house.
“Come on Tess, lets go for a walk,” Alison said. They walked along the cobbled streets of the town, past the independent shops, the cafes, the picturesque houses and a pub. She turned a corner and saw a grand ivy coloured church with a tall bell tower. It was set in a graveyard surrounded by a wrought iron fence. Alison pushed the gate open and headed into the graveyard. They walked past the modern graves and saw a woman tending to one. She was clearing weeds and laying fresh flowers. Heading further in there were much older graves. Alison looked at them as she was walking past and looked at the dates on them; 1918, 1947. Some had crumbled and the dates had rubbed off. Others were broken in half or covered in weeds and moss. As Alison walked she disturbed a crow which flew off. She saw a grand grave with an angel on it dated 1908. Another was a tomb surrounded by a metal fence.
“You looking for someone?” A voice said. Alison turned and saw a man with long white hair in a ponytail. He was wearing dark green overalls and had a bag full of weeds in his hand.
“No, it’s just the two of us,” Alison replied, then realised that wasn’t what he was asking. “Oh you mean, are we looking for a grave? No, just enjoying stretching our legs.” Alison paused. “In fact, you could help us. Can you tell me where the graves of people who died in the 1930s are please?” He pointed to further back to where there were a row of gravestones next to the outer fence. “Thank you,” Alison said. She and Tess walked over and started looking for a gravestone with the surname Alfred. She couldn’t see one.
“Not found who you are looking for?” The man came over to see them. He bent down slowly, wincing at bending his knees. He gave Tess a gentle pat.
“No,” Alison said. “He isn’t here.” She didn’t want to say who she was looking for, she was worried about what reaction she might get, and a little scared too. The man seemed to sense that she didn't want to speak about it.
“Well this graveyard is the one where he would be if he died in the 1930’s. Thats if he lived within the parish. If he isn't here he may have an unmarked plot.”
“Why would there be an unmarked plot here?”
“Maybe the person you are looking for didn't have any family or anyone who wished to buy a headstone.”
Alison drove back to the house in silence without the radio on. Tess stayed quiet, sensing her unease. It had been a strange morning. Alison knew she wanted to find out more about what happened in her house. As she drove down the track she looked at the house as it appeared on the horizon. The roof looked better now it had been repaired. The guttering had been stripped off and replaced with new. The men had started to get rid of the overgrown bushes and the weeds out of the front. They had almost filled the skip for a second time. They were working whilst singing along to the radio. Alison felt less tense seeing the house being restored.
“It’s ok Tess,” she said. “This is just a normal house. It doesn't matter what happened here. It will be our home.” She got out of the car and let Tess out. She could see Alan and Nick putting broken tiles into the skip. Tess ran over to the men, tail wagging. They stopped what they were doing to make a fuss of her.
“Nick, Alan. One more job for you. Put the kettle on. I’ve bought us all lunch.”
“So how long have you two lived in the area for?” Alison asked the men.
“Oh, I moved here last year. Used to live in Lincoln.” Nick said, as he ate a pasty. “Moved up here when I met my fiancé.”
“What about you, Alan?” Alison asked, as she poured out some squash into plastic cups. They were sitting on the grass adjacent to the house. Tess was tied to the railings around the house. She was looking at them, tail between her legs. She wasn’t happy that she wasn’t getting to share any of the food.
“All my life,” he said.
“So did you know about this house before you met me?” Alison said.
“Nope.” Alan responded.
“What about the owners? I heard that there may have been a crime here?” Alison said, passing him a drink.
“Listen Alison. Every old house has a story about there being a murder. It doesn’t mean it’s true. I think we had better get back to work. Thanks for the food.” The men got up and returned to the house. Alison sat thinking about what he had just said. He had mentioned a murder. Which was strange as Alison hadn’t said a murder, she had said a crime. Alan knew something, but didn't want to say what. She knew that she wanted to hurry up and finish renovating the house. The past could stay in the past.
“Here you go Nick, this ones for you. Same time tomorrow?” Alison handed the men their money. As she passed the two envelopes to them she felt a twinge in her stomach. She didn't have much money left. She needed to get another place to renovate as soon as possible. But she didn’t have any money to get a deposit together. She pushed those thoughts out of her mind as she waved the mens white van goodbye.
It was after five. The men had spent the afternoon installing the new kitchen. Tomorrow it would be finished. Alison went to the kitchen to have some food. She listened to the local radio station as she got a tin of dog food out for Tess. She then sat and ate the leftovers from lunch. She opened a bottle of red wine and poured herself a glass. She stood in the kitchen, eating her food off a paper plate she rested on the worktop, which was still covered in protective plastic wrap. She listened to the radio as they ate.The radio DJ was running a dreadful phone in competition where callers had to guess the song from the first few bars. She went to the back of the kitchen and looked out of the window to what would be the back garden of the property. They had yet to start on the garden. It was a square garden about three time the floor plan of the house. It hadn’t been touched for years. It was bordered with a crumbling brick wall. Around the perimeter of the brick wall was an old metal fence topped with barbed wire. In the corner of the garden was what looked like an old wooden shed. Alison made a mental note to go and have a look in it tomorrow before the men cleared the garden. Alison saw a package on the floor of the kitchen. It was a cardboard wrapped package that Alison recognised. One of the men must have signed for it and forgotten to tell Alison it had arrived. She picked it up and tour it open, revealing a book inside. The Darker Side of the Lake District- Murders, Hauntings and Creepy Tales. Alison flicked through, scanning every page looking for a mention of this house. She found tales of haunted abbeys, sheep being killed by mysterious forces, ghosts who lived in pubs. She reached a section that looked more promising: Unsolved Cases: Murders Without Answers. She
looked through until she found what she had been hoping, and not hoping to find all at the same time. Alfred House, North Lake District Nr Bassenthwaite. In 1937 the police were notified of a local woman, Betty Alfred who had not been seen for quite a while. Her friend was also reported missing. The police went to question the husband, Benedict Alfred. When they arrived at the house he was found dead. Reports say he died from poisoning by an unidentified chemical. Was it an accident, or a suicide? No one knows. And the two missing woman were never discovered. Case: Unsolved.
The radio started to crackle like it had lost reception. It was an old FM radio, its aerial repaired with brown tape. There was no point having a modern digital radio when it was likely to get damaged during a renovation. Alison was used to it losing reception, she ignored it, knowing it would sort itself out eventually. Alison put the book down and went over to Tess who was finishing her meal. She patted Tess’ side and Tess responded with a low growl. As close as they were, Tess hated being touched when she was eating. Alison sipped her wine. The book had revealed that two woman had gone missing and a man had died in mysterious circumstances, a man whom the house was named after. The radio was still crackling in and out of reception. She got her phone out and tried Dans number. It didn't connect. That didn’t surprise her, she was used to waiting until he called her. But tonight she wanted to hear his voice more than ever. She put her phone back in her pocket. As she did, the radio stopped crackling and started to play music. But it wasn't the generic pop she was expecting from the local radio station. The song was an old jazz song. A man started singing Some day, when I'm awfully low, when the world is cold. She didn't recognise the song at first until it got to the chorus Oh but you’re lovely, with your smile so warm and your cheeks so soft. There is nothing for me to love you, just the way you look tonight. The music crackled as if it was being played out of an old gramophone. Alison got up and went over to the radio. She played with the dials until she got back to the phone in.
“Come on Tess, lets go for a walk.” Alison felt a sudden need to get away from the house for a while. She turned the radio off and grabbed Tess’ lead and a jacket.
On their previous walks they had stuck to the roads. Alison felt braver today, and decided to head into the forest. They headed out onto the track and walked along it until they got to a public footpath sign on the edge of the forest. The path took them down a dozen or so stone steps. They found themselves on a well used footpath, it was overgrown with nettles, but clearly defined. The forest was cool and dewy. They traipsed through the undergrowth, their footsteps making a satisfying crunch on the floor. They walked through the forest, and for the first time Alison really started to enjoy being in the Lake District. It had been an area that she had not been interested in before, but now she was starting to understand its beauty. She let Tess off her lead.
“Now Tess, you stay close, or this is going back on. You hear me?” Tess seemed to understand her. She ran ahead of her, but always stayed within her eyesight. After a while they reached a stream. Tess ran in to the water and rolled around in it. She was soaked through and covered in dirt and leaves.
“Tess! Why go in the mud?” Alison called. Tess came reluctantly out of the water. She stood near Alison and shook herself, sending dirty water all over her. “Why did you do that?” Tess looked sad at being told off. The footpath took them across the stream over a little stone bridge. On the other side of the water the footpath was less clearly defined. Alison walked along keeping the stream to her right.
“Ok, I think its time we start to head back.” Alison looked at her watch. They had been walking for an hour now. Alison started to walk back the way they came, Tess following.They walked and they walked, keeping the stream to their left. They reached a clearing with a large pile of felled trees. Alison realised that they were in an unfamiliar place.
“Ok Tess, we’re lost. I think we missed the bridge.” Alison said. She got her phone out of her pocket and opened her map App. Her GPS struggled to find her at first, then marked her on the map with a red dot. “Good job you're not a search and rescue dog Tess, isn't it?” Alison started heading back following the stream, Tess staying by her side. The sun started to dip in the sky. Alison did her jacket up. She looked at her phone, she had 43% battery. She knew she could use it for a torch if she needed to, but the light wouldn't last long. She heard a rustling sound in the bushes. She ignored it thinking it could be a fox or a dear. She knelt down and put Tess’ collar back on her.
“I need you to stay close to me now, ok? If you could help me find our way back that would be great.” Alison opened the map again but this time the GPS couldn't locate them. Alison walked into a branch. It was starting to get darker. Tess suddenly stopped, pulling Alison back and causing her to step in a puddle.
“Tess, why'd you do that?” Alison said. But Tess didn't look at her. She was looking deep into the bushes. Then she started to growl.
“What is it Tess?” Alison whispered. Alison peered into the undergrowth. She could see the outline of a figure hiding behind a bush. There was a man there, his face in shadow.
“Run!” She shouted at Tess. Alison started to run, pulling Tess along behind her. Tess gave up barking at the man and ran with Alison, eventually overtaking her and pulling her along.
“Good girl Tess. Come on, we have to get back to the house.” They carried on running and eventually Alison found the bridge they had missed earlier. She didn't look back, but had the feeling that they were being chased. They got back onto the footpath which eventually led them to the stone steps. She took them two at a time until she made it back onto the track. The sun had almost set. They ran along the track until they reached the house. Alison fumbled with the keys and unlocked the outer gate. She locked it behind them. Then she unlocked the front door. They got inside and slammed the door behind them. She sank onto the floor and put her head in her hands. She was out of breath, her hands scratched and stung by nettles, her feet sore and wet. Tess sensed her distress and started to climb up on her, licking her face.
“I’m ok, Tess, I’m ok. We’re home now.” Alison regained some composure. Her breathing started to get back to normal. She could hear a sound coming from the kitchen. It was music. Alison stood up. She crept to the kitchen door and slowly opened it. The radio was playing. She went into the kitchen to turn it off. Then she realised it was playing the same song as earlier, The Way you Look Tonight. The song crackled and hissed like an old record being played. Alison turned the radio off then she unplugged it from the wall, just to be sure.
Alison was keen to get to bed. Even after the strange music in the kitchen and seeing the man in the forest she was so exhausted from getting lost ,she knew she would sleep well that night. She was also exhausted from having to hose down and towel dry a very disgruntled Tess. Alison was covered in mud herself, and cut and stung from nettles. Before bed Alison ran herself a bath. She poured some lavender oil into the water. She sipped another glass of wine whilst in the bath. With the door shut to the outside world, it was like being in the bathroom of a luxury hotel. She laid in the bath and rubbed off the dried on plaster, paint and dirt. She sank back, submerging her hair into the water. She wished she was like a normal girl and did things like this every day, but she didn't have time.
Who would have put all this effort into putting in a nice bathroom like this but hadn't stayed to finish the restoration? Whoever it was, their loss was her gain. But then Alison couldn't help but think to herself about what the woman in the deli had said, and how this house was in a book of unsolved crimes. No wonder no one local wanted to live here. As Alison lied there thinking all of these thoughts, she heard a noise from downstairs. It was her phone ringing. She swore to herself. Why hadn't she bought it up to the bathroom with her? She got out of the bath and wrapped a towel around her. She opened the bathroom door, and almost tripped over Tess who was sitting outside.
“Tess! Why do you have to sit where I can trip over you?” She said as sh
e ran down the stairs and grabbed her phone, just as it stopped ringing. She looked at the missed call. It had been Dan. She tried to ring him back but the phone didn't connect.
“Damn it!” She tried again but to no avail. She slammed the phone down. That was when she started to hear a noise, it was music. She marched into the kitchen. The radio was off. It couldn't be that. She went into the hallway and headed to the living room. It looked so different to how it was when she had first arrived. It was now cleared of furniture and rubbish. It was just a large empty room. The dual sight windows were clean. The fireplace had been ripped out, leaving a big gaping hole in the chimney breast. Alison paced around. The music wasn't coming from here either. Alison went back into the hallway. That was where the music was at its loudest. She looked around. The hallway was small, there was nothing there. She looked to the floor. It was like the music was coming from underneath her feet. She knelt and put her ear to the hard wood. The music was coming from underneath the property. She listened hard. It was that song again. She was sure of it. She looked around to see if there was a way of getting to underneath the floor. She went into the cupboard under the stairs and looked in there. She realised there was a dirty rug on the floor. She hadn’t paid much attention to it before. Now she had seen it, she decided to try and see what was underneath. She pulled it back, creating a cloud of dust in the process. She looked at the floor underneath. There was a door there with a round metal handle. Alison tried to pull it open but it was locked.
Then the house went silent. Alison looked up at Tess who was stood watching her. She looked perplexed at what her owner was doing. Alison still couldn't hear anything, and besides, if there really was music playing Tess would be reacting to it. Alison stood up and headed to the kitchen and grabbed the bottle of wine. It was empty.
Haunted House Tales Page 17
